Pavel Pardo scores first goal of the season as Fire blank Whitecaps 1-0

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Midfielder Pavel Pardo scored on an early free kick Saturday as the Chicago Fire snapped a 221-minute scoreless streak with a 1-0 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Fire (9-6-4, 31 points) prevailed despite playing a man short for the final 21 minutes after defender Arne Friedrich was ejected with a second yellow card.

The Whitecaps (8-6-6, 30 points) suffered their second straight loss and third in a five-game road swing.

Chicago was awarded a free kick in the ninth minute when Whitecaps midfielder Jun Marques Davidson tripped Fire midfielder Patrick Nyarko on a run outside the box.

Pardo then struck a 23-yard kick into the right corner for his first goal of the season in the ninth minute.